DISCRIMINATION BODY TO PROBE REMARKS ROMANIAN PRESIDENT MADE ABOUT ARMENIANS
The Associated Press
International Herald Tribune
Published: September 11, 2007
France
BUCHAREST, Romania: Romania’s anti-discrimination organization said
Tuesday it would investigate remarks made by President Traian Basescu
to determine whether can be considered defamatory to the Armenian
community.
Basescu who underwent surgery at the weekend on his thyroid gland
on Sunday thanked doctors at a Bucharest hospital, especially the
surgeon saying: "At last I see a kind Armenian, a competent Armenian."
His remarks were apparently directed at a political rival, Economy
Minister Varujan Vosganian, who is an ethnic Armenian and a member of
the governing Liberal Party. Vosganian accused Basescu of being blinded
by petty political squabbles and called him "a risk for democracy."
Romania’s politicians from all parties have been embroiled in bitter
political disputes for years, especially with the popular president,
after no party managed to secure a majority in 2004 parliamentary
elections.
Basescu’s office said Tuesday that his remarks had intended
to highlight the professionalism of the surgeon who operated on
him. "The head of state expresses his appreciation and recognition
for the extraordinary contribution that the Armenian community has for
years in the cultural and scientific life of Romania," said Basescu’s
spokesman Valeriu Turcan in a statement.
Romania has a few thousand ethnic Armenians who emigrated to Romania
1,000 years ago and are well integrated into society.
In May, Basescu was criticized after he called a reporter "a stinky
Gypsy." The National Council for the Fight Against Discrimination
can rule whether Basescu’s remarks amounted to incitement to ethnic
hatred or discrimination